Zapato Islands

Philippines , Philippines

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Zapatos Islands (also spelled Zapato Islands) is a small archipelago of islets located in the center of the Jintotolo Channel in the Philippines, part of Balud, Masbate in the Western Visayas region.

The group consists mainly of three islets: Zapato Mayor Island (the largest), Zapato Menor Island, and Chinela Island. The islands are notable for the Zapato Menor Lighthouse, which stands on Zapato Menor Island and serves as a navigational aid for ships passing through the channel. Despite being surrounded by seawater, the Zapatos Island community faces a severe water shortage problem with no natural freshwater source on the island, making it one of the harshest island life challenges imaginable.

The name “Zapatos” means “shoes” in Spanish, though the exact reason for naming remains unclear from available sources. The islands are relatively undeveloped with limited infrastructure, and the area is primarily known for its role in maritime navigation rather than tourism.